Systems and methods for partitioning search indexes for improved efficiency in identifying media segments

Abstract

Systems and methods for identifying a media segment of audio or video content are described. The video segment is identified by deriving data from media content and comparing said data to a reference database in order to identify said video segment. Embodiments of the invention improve the speed and accuracy of the media identification process by advantageously partitioning the indexes in subdivisions where high value reference information is separated from the bulk information, for example.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media containing instructions which when executed on the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
 generating a cue from a video frame of an unknown media segment wherein the unknown media segment is associated with a particular channel; 
 identifying the unknown media segment by matching the cue to a reference cue associated with a known media segment; 
 identifying a substitute media segment based on an identifier of the known media segment; and 
 transmitting, to a set of media devices associated with the particular channel, a notification associated with the substitute media segment, wherein the notification synchronizes a presentation of the substitute media segment by the set of media devices. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein identifying the substitute media segment includes matching an identifier associated with the unknown media segment to an identifier of the substitute media segment. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the substitute media segment is configured to replace a media segment of the particular channel. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the substitute media segment is configured to presented within an overlay window. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the operations further include:
 determining an offset time within the known media segment using the cue, wherein the offset time corresponds to a time within the unknown media segment that is being presented.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each media device of the set of media devices is connected to the particular channel, and wherein the notification causes each media device of the set of media devices to present the substitute media segment. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the notification synchronizes the presentation of the substitute media segment by triggering a timer on each media device of the set of media devices. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 generating a cue from a video frame of an unknown media segment wherein the unknown media segment is associated with a particular channel;   identifying the unknown media segment by matching the cue to a reference cue associated with a known media segment;   identifying a substitute media segment based on an identifier of the known media segment; and   transmitting, to a set of media devices associated with the particular channel, a notification associated with the substitute media segment, wherein the notification synchronizes a presentation of the substitute media segment by the set of media devices.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein identifying the substitute media segment includes matching an identifier associated with the unknown media segment to an identifier of the substitute media segment. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the substitute media segment is configured to replace a media segment of the particular channel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the substitute media segment is configured to presented within an overlay window. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining an offset time within the known media segment using the cue, wherein the offset time corresponds to a time within the unknown media segment that is being presented.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each media device of the set of media devices is connected to the particular channel, and wherein the notification causes each media device of the set of media devices to present the substitute media segment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the notification synchronizes the presentation of the substitute media segment by triggering a timer on each media device of the set of media devices. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium containing instructions which when executed on one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
 generating a cue from a video frame of an unknown media segment wherein the unknown media segment is associated with a particular channel;   identifying the unknown media segment by matching the cue to a reference cue associated with a known media segment;   identifying a substitute media segment based on an identifier of the known media segment; and   transmitting, to a set of media devices associated with the particular channel, a notification associated with the substitute media segment, wherein the notification synchronizes a presentation of the substitute media segment by the set of media devices.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein identifying the substitute media segment includes matching an identifier associated with the unknown media segment to an identifier of the substitute media segment. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the substitute media segment is configured to replace a media segment of the particular channel. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the substitute media segment is configured to presented within an overlay window. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further include:
 determining an offset time within the known media segment using the cue, wherein the offset time corresponds to a time within the unknown media segment that is being presented.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein each media device of the set of media devices is connected to the particular channel, and wherein the notification causes each media device of the set of media devices to present the substitute media segment.